{{Short description|American author (1948–2022)}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] --> | name = Ellen Wittlinger | image = <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Ellenwittlinger2.jpg]] --> | caption = Ellen Wittlinger, 2004 | birth_date = {{birth date|1948|10|21|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Belleville, Illinois]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2022|11|17|1948|10|21|df=y}} | death_place = [[Williamsburg, Massachusetts]], U.S. | occupation = Novelist, young adult fiction writer | genre = [[Young Adult Literature|Young Adult]] | movement = | notableworks = ''[[Hard Love (novel)|Hard Love]]'', ''ZigZag'', others | influences = | influenced = | website = {{URL|http://www.ellenwittlinger.com/}} }}
'''Ellen Wittlinger''' (October 21, 1948 – November 17, 2022) was an American author of young adults novels, including the [[Michael L. Printz Award|Michael L. Printz Honor]] book ''[[Hard Love (novel)|Hard Love]]''.
== Early life and education == Ellen Wittlinger was born in [[Belleville, Illinois]] on October 21, 1948, to Karl and Doris Wittlinger. As a teenager, she often worked in her parents' store.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Maughan |first=Shannon |date=2022-11-22 |title=Obituary: Ellen Wittlinger |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/90990-obituary-ellen-wittlinger.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |language=en |archive-date=2023-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926070552/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/90990-obituary-ellen-wittlinger.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Wittlinger earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in art and sociology from [[Millikin University]] in 1970, after which she moved to [[Ashland, Oregon]]. Shortly after, she was accepted into the [[Iowa Writers' Workshop]] at the [[University of Iowa]], from which she earned a [[Master of Fine Arts]] in 1973.<ref name=":1" />
== Career == Wittlinger began her writing career after receiving fellowships from the [[Fine Arts Work Center]]. She published her first book, a poetry collection, ''Breakers'', in 1979. She continued writing poetry and expanded to playwriting.<ref name=":1" /> Her one-act play ''One Civilized Person'' began as a character sketch at one of the [[Playwrights' Platform]]’s Saturday workshops and, according to ''[[The Phoenix (newspaper)|The Boston Phoenix]]'', "blossomed into a startlingly funny and terrifying work, a three-character play that never leaves the living room yet resonates far, far beyond."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Edelstein |first1=David |title=One-acts to grind: School for bards |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_boston-phoenix_1982-07-06_11_27/page/n64/mode/1up |access-date=2024-09-04 |work=The Boston Phoenix |date=1982-07-06}}</ref> One of her plays won the author's prize at the annual Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theaters competition.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
Wittlinger later worked as a librarian part-time with the [[Swampscott Public Library]], which inspired her to focus her writing on children's and young adult literature. She published her first novel, ''Lombardo's Law'', in 1993.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
In addition to writing, Wittlinger taught at [[Emerson College]] and [[Simmons University]].<ref name=":1" />
== Personal life == While at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, Wittlinger met David Pritchard, whom she married in 1978. The two moved to [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]] following Wittlinger's graduation. The couple had two children: Kate and Morgan.<ref name=":1" />
Wittlinger died from [[Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease]] on November 17, 2022, at the age of 74.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jensen |first1=Kelly |title=Ellen Wittlinger, Author Of Hard-hitting Queer Ya, Has Died |url=https://bookriot.com/ellen-wittlinger/ |access-date=22 November 2022 |publisher=Book Riot |date=22 November 2022 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122123931/https://bookriot.com/ellen-wittlinger/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon her death, Justin Chanda, the senior vice president and publisher of [[Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers]], stated, <blockquote>To say that Ellen Wittlinger was a trailblazer is beyond an understatement. For decades she wrote engaging, searing books that never shied away from showing all facets of love, identity, and sense of self. She was an absolute pioneer of LGTBQ+ literature, a fierce advocate for all voices, and a genuinely warm and wonderful human being. She will be missed terribly, but her books will live on as will her legacy.<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>
==Awards and honors== Six of Wittlinger's books are [[Junior Library Guild]] selections: ''Gracie’s Girl'' (2000),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gracie's Girl |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/gracie-s-girl-9780689822490j |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Junior Library Guild]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601151359/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/gracie-s-girl-9780689822490j |url-status=live }}</ref> ''What's in a Name?'' (2000),<ref>{{Cite web |title=What’s in a Name |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/what-s-in-a-name-9780689825514j |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Junior Library Guild]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225050054/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/what-s-in-a-name-9780689825514j |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Razzle'' (2002),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Razzle |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/razzle-9780689835650j |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Junior Library Guild]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601151404/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/razzle-9780689835650j |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Zigzag'' (2003),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zigzag |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/zigzag-9780689849961j |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Junior Library Guild]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601151405/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/zigzag-9780689849961j |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Heart on My Sleeve'' (2004),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heart on My Sleeve |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/heart-on-my-sleeve-9780689849978j |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Junior Library Guild]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601151409/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/heart-on-my-sleeve-9780689849978j |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''Sandpiper'' (2005).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sandpiper |url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/sandpiper-9780689868023j |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Junior Library Guild]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601151424/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/sandpiper-9780689868023j |url-status=live }}</ref>
The [[American Library Association]] (ALA) has included multiple novels on their list of [[Best Fiction for Young Adults]], including ''Hard Love'' (2000),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hard Love |url=https://www.ala.org/winner/hard-love |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[American Library Association]] |language=en}}</ref> ''What's in a Name'' (2001),<ref>{{Cite web |title=What's in a Name |url=https://www.ala.org/winner/whats-name |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[American Library Association]] |language=en}}</ref> ''Razzle'' (2002),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Razzle |url=https://www.ala.org/winner/razzle |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[American Library Association]] |language=en}}</ref> ''Sandpiper'' (2006),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sandpiper |url=https://www.ala.org/winner/sandpiper |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[American Library Association]] |language=en}}</ref> and ''Blind Faith'' (2007).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blind Faith |url=https://www.ala.org/winner/blind-faith |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[American Library Association]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2008, the ALA also included ''Parrotfish'' on their [[American Library Association Rainbow List|Rainbow Book List]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zvirin |first=Stephanie |date=2008-05-15 |title=The Rainbow List: 2008 |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=2662110 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=[[Booklist]]}}</ref> and their list of [[Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parrotfish |url=https://www.ala.org/winner/parrotfish-0 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[American Library Association]] |language=en}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+Awards for Wittlinger's writing !Year !Title !Award !Result !{{Abbreviation|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! rowspan="2" |2000 | rowspan="2" |''Hard Love'' |[[Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature]] |Winner |<ref>{{Cite news |last=Killeen |first=Wendy |date=2000-06-11 |title=Lambda Literary Award, Young Adult Novel, 1999 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83803910/lambda-literary-award-young-adult/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217130923/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83803910/lambda-literary-award-young-adult/ |archive-date=2022-02-17 |access-date=2022-02-15 |work=The Boston Globe |pages=416}}</ref> |- |[[Michael L. Printz Award]] |Honor |<ref>{{cite web |date=15 March 2007 |title=Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books |url=http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/bookawards/printzaward/previouswinners/winners |accessdate=8 July 2015 |website=[[American Library Association]] |publisher= |archive-date=4 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104231300/http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/bookawards/printzaward/previouswinners/winners |url-status=live }}</ref> |- !2001 |''What's in a Name'' |[[Massachusetts Book Award]] |Winner | |- !2008 |''Parrotfish'' |[[Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature]] |Finalist |<ref name="twentieth">{{cite web |last=Gonzalez Cerna |first=Antonio |date=2007-04-30 |title=20th Annual Lambda Literary Awards |url=https://www.lambdaliterary.org/2007/04/lambda-literary-awards-2007-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522010244/https://www.lambdaliterary.org/winners-finalists/04/30/lambda-literary-awards-2007-2/ |archive-date=2019-05-22 |access-date=2022-02-15 |publisher=[[Lambda Literary Foundation]] |language=en}}</ref> |- ! rowspan="2" |2009 | rowspan="2" |''Love & Lies: Marisol's Story'' |[[Ferro-Grumley Award]] |Finalist |<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Ferro-Grumley Awards |url=https://publishingtriangle.org/awards/ferro-grumley-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924233050/https://publishingtriangle.org/awards/ferro-grumley-awards/ |archive-date=2023-09-24 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=[[The Publishing Triangle]] |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |[[Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature]] |Finalist |<ref name="twentyfirst">{{cite web |last=Gonzalez Cerna |first=Antonio |date=2010-02-18 |title=21st Annual Lambda Literary Awards |url=https://www.lambdaliterary.org/2010/02/lambda-literary-awards-2008-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105091101/http://www.lambdaliterary.org/winners-finalists/02/18/lambda-literary-awards-2008-2/ |archive-date=2020-01-05 |access-date=25 September 2020 |publisher=[[Lambda Literary Foundation]] |language=en}}</ref> |}
==Selected bibliography== *{{Cite book |title=Lombardo's Law |date=1993 |publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]] |isbn=978-0-39-565969-4}}<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=1993-10-04 |title=Lombardo's Law by Ellen Wittlinger |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780395659694 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Noticing Paradise |date=1995 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-0-39-571646-5}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=1995-11-01 |title=Noticing Paradise |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Noticing-Paradise-Ellen-Wittlinger/pid=988950 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Booklist]]}}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=[[Hard Love (novel)|Hard Love]] |date=1999 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers]] |isbn=978-0-68-982134-9}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=1999-05-31 |title=Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780689821349 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=What's In a Name |date=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |isbn=978-0-68-982551-4}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-02-28 |title=What's in a Name by Ellen Wittlinger |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780689825514 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Gracie's Girl |date=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |isbn=978-0-68-984960-2}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-04-01 |title=GRACIE'S GIRL by Ellen Wittlinger |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780689849602 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Razzle |date=2001 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |isbn=978-0-68-983565-0}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-03-24 |title=RAZZLE by Ellen Wittlinger |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780689856006 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |archive-date=2021-06-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623054855/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780689856006 |url-status=live }}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=The Long Night of Leo and Bree |date=2002 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |isbn=978-0-68-983564-3}}<ref>{{cite web |date=15 January 2002 |title=The Long Night of Leo and Bree |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/the-long-night-of-leo-and-bree/ |accessdate=8 July 2015 |website=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |publisher= |archive-date=8 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708213938/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/the-long-night-of-leo-and-bree/ |url-status=live }}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Zigzag |date=2003 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |isbn=978-0-68-984996-1}}<ref>{{cite web |date=1 July 2003 |title=Zigzag |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/zigzag-3/ |accessdate=8 July 2015 |website=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |publisher=Kirkus Media LLC |archive-date=8 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708203453/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/zigzag-3/ |url-status=live }}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Heart on My Sleeve |date=2004 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing |isbn=978-0-68-984997-8}}<ref>{{cite web |date=15 June 2004 |title=Heart On My Sleeve |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/heart-on-my-sleeve/ |accessdate=8 July 2015 |website=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |publisher= |archive-date=8 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708202645/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/heart-on-my-sleeve/ |url-status=live }}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Sandpiper |date=2005 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |isbn=978-0-68-986802-3}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-08-15 |title=Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780689868023 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Blind Faith |date=2006 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |isbn=978-1-41-690273-7}}<ref>{{cite web |date=1 July 2006 |title=Blind Faith |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/blind-faith-2/ |accessdate=8 July 2015 |website=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |publisher= |archive-date=8 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708205226/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/blind-faith-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Parrotfish |date=2007 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |isbn=978-1-41-691622-2}}<ref>{{cite web |date=19 May 2010 |title=Parrotfish |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/parrotfish/ |accessdate=3 August 2015 |website=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |archive-date=8 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708213252/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/parrotfish/ |url-status=live }}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Love & Lies: Marisol's Story |date=2008 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |isbn=978-1-41-691623-9}}<ref>{{cite web |date=24 June 2010 |title=Love & Lies |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/love-lies-2/ |accessdate=8 July 2015 |website=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |publisher=Kirkus Media LLC |archive-date=8 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708204050/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/love-lies-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=This Means War! |date=2010 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |isbn=978-1-41-697101-6}}<ref>{{cite web |date=15 March 2010 |title=This Means War! |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/this-means-war/ |accessdate=8 July 2015 |website=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |publisher= |archive-date=8 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708213146/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-wittlinger/this-means-war/ |url-status=live }}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Local Girl Swept Away |date=2016 |publisher=Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |isbn=978-1-44-058900-3}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-14 |title=Local Girl Swept Away by Ellen Wittlinger |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781440589003 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Saturdays with Hitchcock |date=2017 |publisher=Charlesbridge |isbn=978-1-58-089775-4}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-31 |title=Saturdays with Hitchcock by Ellen Wittlinger |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781580897754 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref> *{{Cite book |title=Someone Else's Shoes |date=2018 |publisher=Charlesbridge |isbn=978-1-58-089749-5}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-30 |title=Someone Else's Shoes by Ellen Wittlinger |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781580897495 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Children and Young Adult Literature}} * [[Phyllis Reynolds Naylor]]
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.ellenwittlinger.com/ Author's website] * [http://www.ellenwittlinger.com/about.html Short biography on the author's website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wittlinger, Ellen}} [[Category:1948 births]] [[Category:2022 deaths]] [[Category:People from Belleville, Illinois]] [[Category:Writers from Illinois]] [[Category:Millikin University alumni]] [[Category:University of Iowa alumni]] [[Category:Iowa Writers' Workshop alumni]] [[Category:American writers of young adult literature]] [[Category:Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature winners]] [[Category:American women writers of young adult literature]] [[Category:20th-century American novelists]] [[Category:20th-century American women novelists]] [[Category:21st-century American women]]